Bella Ballerina aims to stay perfect in Fair Grounds Oaks

Mar 16, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Bella Ballerina wins the Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Godolphin’s homebred Bella Ballerina brings a perfect 3-for-3 record into Saturday’s $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), a key stepping stone to the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The Fair Grounds Oaks is worth the maximum amount of Oaks points, on the 100-50-25-15 scale, to the top five finishers, but Bella Ballerina is also seeking to take care of some unfinished family business. Her half-sister, champion Pretty Mischievous, was beaten in the 2023 edition of this race before going on to Kentucky Oaks glory.

Like Pretty Mischievous, Bella Ballerina is trained by Brendan Walsh. The half-sisters have competed in a couple of the same preps in their respective years. Bella Ballerina has already avenged an earlier loss by Pretty Mischievous, when capturing last November’s Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill. Both Pretty Mischievous and Bella Ballerina went on to win the Rachel Alexandra (G2), held in mid-February over the same track and 1 1/16-mile trip as the Fair Grounds Oaks.

What a stretch battle in the G2 Rachel Alexandra! 👀

BELLA BALLERINA fights back on the rail to stay perfect and add 50 Kentucky Oaks points to her resume! 🌸🎀@brenpwalsh trains the 3YO filly for @godolphin. @tyler_gaff was the pilot!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/bu0Hjdrdod

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 14, 2026

While Pretty Mischievous regressed to a well-beaten second next time in the Fair Grounds Oaks, Bella Ballerina hopes to continue her winning streak in Saturday’s renewal. Bella Ballerina, a daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Street Sense, is the lone Triple Crown nominee in the field.

Luv Your Neighbor has gone close in every leg of the Fair Grounds Road to the Oaks so far for trainer Michael Stidham. Beaten just a head in the Dec. 20 Untapable S. and by a neck in the Jan. 17 Silverbulletday S., she was outdueled by a half-length in the Rachel Alexandra.

Life of Joy, winner of last fall’s Rags to Riches S. on the Oaks trail at Churchill, has lost her two ensuing starts. Fourth as the favorite behind Bella Ballerina in the Golden Rod, the Brad Cox pupil was most recently runner-up to early Oaks favorite Zany in the Feb. 7 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Lindsay Schultz-trained Newtown Pike comes off a pair of runner-up efforts at Oaklawn Park. A distant second in the Year’s End S., she missed by just a neck in her first try in a points race, the Feb. 6 Martha Washington S. Also exiting the Martha Washington is fourth-placer Maximum Offer, a Kenny McPeek filly who is cross-entered to Saturday’s Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.

Cherie DeVaux sends out Love and Trust, a recent maiden winner over this course and distance, and Miss Metoyer takes a class hike after romping in a Delta Downs allowance.

The Fair Grounds Oaks is carded as the 11th race (post time of 6:08 p.m. ET) on the stakes-laden program, preceding the Louisiana Derby (G2), and you can watch and wager on TwinSpires.com.